These days – these days of fractured politics and fraudulent politicians and fake news, and all of the fear they’ve collectively caused our country – perhaps we could all use a little comfort food, be it literal or figurative. And for a couple hours on Sunday night at Ravinia, that’s what John Mellencamp and Carlene Carter dished out – American music that was comforting while still completely captivating.

American music, of course, is Ms. Carter’s birthright. By nature and by nurture, the daughter of June Carter and stepdaughter of Johnny Cash was meant to grace the stage, and oh boy, did she ever. The strains of her guitar and twang of her voice filling the night air, Carter welcomed the crowd as they filed to their seats. Regaling us with stories of a life lived among musical royalty (one yarn involved a late-1960's Kris Kristofferson in leather pants and a helicopter), Carlene gifted us with her own God-given talent. Setting down her guitar to sit down at the piano, she shared the personal loss of her mother and stepdaddy with the hymnal “Lonesome Valley.” Leading us north shore folks in an acapella “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” she winkingly assured us that our rendition was alright, even though we’re no Carter Family.

This professionalism continued as members of the headlining band took the stage, decked out in black suits and armed with hollow-body guitars, a violin, faux-distressed drumkit, and even an accordion. The music of a newer number, “Lawless Times” from 2014’s Plain Spoken, began. And then that familiar face and comforting form of John Mellencamp strolled out, Telecaster guitar strapped over black duds that would’ve made the afore-mentioned Mr. Cash proud, as confident and cocksure as he was decades ago.

The opener was a newer song, but the weathered voice, the still-handsome face, and the populist politics – sentiments both working-class and progressive? How vintage! How quaint! – were anything but. This was the guy – the legend, the hall-of-famer, the working man’s musician – the crowd had come to see. And their hero delivered.

After another more recent number, Mellencamp dove into his back catalogue with renditions of “Minutes to Memories” and “Small Town” off the once-ubiquitous Scarecrow, the crowd eager to leap to its feet and sing along.

After introducing himself and his band, Mellencamp traveled back in time even further with a modern blues take – just vocals, slide guitar, and upright bass – on Robert Johnson’s haunting “Stones in My Passway.”

Again returning to his own work, Mellencamp sang “Pop Singer,” which could just as easily critique today’s fleeting and narcissistic culture as the one nearly three decades ago, as could 1987’s “Check It Out.” The only updates these songs got were thanks to the mature and polished backing band Mellencamp brought and the weathered rasp that age has brought him.

The next song didn’t need the stellar backing musicians or their bevy of instruments to make it powerful. Clutching his acoustic guitar, today’s John Mellencamp told the tale of how a 24-year-old version of himself penned “Jack and Diane” while torn between dreams of songwriting stardom and the more worldly concerns 20-somethings have always had. And strumming said guitar, he allowed the crowd of equally aged folks to take the lead, literally, singing the lead vocal we all know…or at least thought we did. When the crowd skipped the second verse, instead plowing into that beloved chorus, Mellencamp corrected us before continuing. But that chorus of voices made “Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone” float through the summer air, sounding every bit the hymn or old standard it has become.

Carlene Carter then returned for a couple of tunes, including “My Soul’s Got Wings,” whose lyrics were once written by Woody Guthrie, only to be given the Mermaid Avenue treatment (given music and a proper recording) by Mellencamp on this year’s Sad Clowns & Hillbillies. A lovely overture by the band’s violinist and accordion player was played before the crowd again got the classics, in the form of “Rain on the Scarecrow” and “Crumblin’ Down.” When each of these was played, the audience leapt to its feet, especially going footloose for “Authority Song,” whose authoritative target most of them have become all these years later.

But that was not the point of the show. Who we were – and how that’s not so different than who we are now – was what mattered. And as we embraced John Mellencamp’s songs, singing with him, all together for one glorious night, he provided the comfort and familiarity that was underscored by the main set’s closer, “Pink Houses”: “Ain’t that America, somethin’ to see…”

For one night, we forgot about the world outside. It sure was somethin’ to see.

It was a night for the archetypes of rock at Ravinia this past weekend. The rain finally let up for a cool evening to rock the night away with “Rage and Rapture”, the new Blondie and Garbage tour. The eclectic crowd of Garbage fans and Blondie fans filled the pavilion and spread across the grass in anticipation of these female rock icons.

Opening songs were played by John Doe and Exene Cervenka, mid-west natives, making their Ravinia debut. The long time musical duo, which has been performing since the 70’s (as a group and as solo artists) had the crowd swaying to their music and enjoying their last night on the “Rage and Rapture Tour”. The warm up act was well received with much applause and appreciation.

As the lights phased out and the stage was covered in a flood of red light, Shirley Manson and the band members of Garbage took to the stage. In what can only be called her signature look, Manson and the boys took over. This band first met in Chicago and began putting out music in 1995.Their latest album “Strange Little Birds” was released in 2016. The audience reveled in songs like “Only Happens When It Rains”, “Stupid Girl”, “Push It” and “Cup O’ Coffee”. Fans were on their feet dancing and singing along. The energy was palpable. It was a warmly welcomed and exciting first appearance at Ravinia for Garbage.

Then, although a hard act to follow, Blondie took the stage with backdrop images of buzzing bees. Debbie Harry sported a Pollinator mask (also the name of her May released album) and cape with a bold statement about the treatment of the Earth. Following a forty-year history of the powerhouse that is Blondie, original members, 72-year-old Debbie Harry, 61-year-old Clem Burke (drummer), and guitarist Chris Stein (67 years) were joined on stage by the new age members Tommy Kessler, Leigh Fox, and Matt Katz-Bohen, in a testimony of iconic style, creative music and a love for all people. The audience surged to the edge of the pavilion and remained on their feet. Fans sang along to signature songs like “One Way or Another,” “Hanging on the Telephone,” and “Heart of Glass”. The crowd also continued to sing along with Blondie’s new releases, having fun with tracks like “Fun”.

It was a night to rock out at Ravinia with some rocking music and iconic ladies. It was night not to be missed!

On a recent Throwback Thursday, a suggested playlist popped up on Spotify that caught my attention, “Oldies but Goodies.” I started the playlist enthusiastically, not having the ability to pre-screen the mix. The first song to play was Sisqo's "Thong Song." At that moment, I wasn't quite sure what offended me more, that a song from my middle school days was considered an oldie by some younger-than-me-millennial, or that Sisqo would be in a category of "Oldies but Goodies." An oldie evokes ideas of classics, songs that withstand the test of time and musical fads. Songs, bands, singers, and songwriters that make "Greatest Songs of All Time" lists by the most reputable industry minds. "Oldies but Goodies" are timeless, and the best example of this happened only one short week ago at Ravinia with The Temptations and The Beach Boys.

No better groups epitomize Golden Oldies than The Temptations and The Beach Boys. Together they represent an incredible era of music from the 50, the 60s, and 70s from the pop-like rhythm and blues of Motown to the surf sound with electric guitars and vocal harmonies. Both musical styles were on full display Sunday night at Ravinia.

The Temptations performed with the gusto of men half their age. Their glee was palpable as they breezed through their dancing arrangements in perfect unison to their major hits like "Ain't to proud to beg," "Papa was a rolling stone" and their anthem "My Girl." Accompanied by a big band and master of ceremony, the group moved seamlessly from song to song not breaking for more than a breath or a drink of water. For 45 minutes straight the five men put on a show that is simply unseen in today's music. They were charismatic and engaging, their vocals and showmanship from another era. Unfortunately, their performance was lost on the audience in the pavilion seats. With tickets running as high $150/seat you'd expect those spending the money to see the group up close would be eager to see them, sing with them, dance with them. On the contrary, the pavilion guests appeared by bored, almost inconvenienced when they were asked to get up and sing and dance along. It seemed like they were there more for nostalgia; not present as fans of the music or the musical legends, but in remembrance of a bygone era and in mourning for youth. The seats were lost on those that tried to buy their time back.

The Beach Boys' set, in contrast to the rhythm of Motown, played with the same ease of an ocean at sunset, each song getting its play and lazily meeting the next. "Good Vibrations" had plenty of time to crash across the lawn seats before the group started "Sloop John B" or "God Only Knows." I rode the sound waves out to the lawn to meet up with friends and stretch my legs from the pavilion seats. Perhaps it was the extra space and freedom of the lawn seats, or perhaps just The Beach Boys themselves, but people were up, dancing and belting out every word. Beach balls by the dozens were hit from fan group to fan group, smiling and laughing even when some were smacked into heads, or in my case, my wine. The evening really captured the surf sound, listening to wavy-like music against a setting summer sun with a cold drink and good friends. This vibe still couldn't penetrate the pavilion seats, and having left my seat I couldn't return until there was a designated break in the music set. Though the group took at least 4-5 minutes to get from song to song there wasn't enough time to get people to their seat. But watching the audience I was reminded of The Beach Boys' earliest days, performing in matching short-sleeved button up shirts, slouchy with their hands in their pockets. Most guests sat the same way, slouchy, hands in their pockets and grimaces on their face. I spent the rest of the show on the lawn hitting beach balls, drinking wine, and crooning along to "Kokomo."

You can classify Sisqo as an oldie to appeal to older millennials and get clicks on trendy music apps, but true oldies (songs and bands) live across generations, draw thousands of fans to a suburban music venue, and can be enjoyed by kids young and old. Those are the only songs that can be considered Oldies But Goodies, even if the goodies can't be enjoyed by the people who are now "oldies." Ravinia has shows that extend through September, see what they have to offer at www.ravinia.org.

Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, and John Lodge brought a show to the Ravinia stage that knocked out everyone who was in attendance. Two full sets of music packed with hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were the band’s musical offerings for the evening. Without a doubt, it was a musical setting that was great to see, hear, and feel.

There is nothing like going into a concert venue to see a favorite band. The crowds of people dress in their best going out attire and get all polished up like a pretty penny. They make their way to the seats to see some good music and moments later lights finally fade and the music starts. Excitement runs through the crowd as the first notes begin.

It’s just a magical time during the summer concert season at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois. The Moody Blues only add to that magic. The legendary band came triumphantly took the stage and played a no nonsense show, having lost nothing in their fifty plus years as musicians. Their music was absolutely flawless from start to finish.

The first set contained hits from their vast catalog. They opened the show with “I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)” and grabbed the attention of the audience right away. Hayward and Lodge both have amazing voices and hit every note with perfection. There wasn’t the slightest crack or imperfection in any of the performer’s voice.

Songs from the video age of the 1980’s were a big hit among the fans. “The Voice” and “Your Wildest Dreams” were definitely crowd pleasers. They kept reminding us of their amazing writing capability as their set list unfolded.

“The Story in Your Eyes” was a highlight from the first set that grabbed a few inexperienced Moody Blues fans by surprise. “Oh my God! They’re playing this song too?” If you listen to classic rock, it’s hard to not know The Moody Blues music. It’s still everywhere on the FM dial.

“Steppin’ in A Slide Zone” began with the melodic dynamic build and thrilled the more dedicated fans of this amazing band. The keyboards and guitars were blending so well in what was a great piece of ear candy. For the few that didn’t know the song, I’m guessing it had to impress them as well.

Set two was reserved for the fiftieth anniversary of Days of Future Passed. They played the album in its entirety and this is the reason a lot of people came out to see the famous band. A few people in attendance even gave up their Grateful Dead tickets to witness this once in a lifetime performance.

The monologues were prerecorded by Jeremy Irons and he nailed it. He sounded just like the original recordings. “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Nights in White Satin” were the bigger hits from the album. Getting the chance to see this composition from start to finish was a real treat. It was a musical journey that everyone will remember from the orchestral interludes to the psychedelic writings of 1967. Originally released just after the summer of love, the album is a timeless recording that will always stand out as one of the best of all time.

Graeme Edge was awesome on the drums and kept hitting them with finesse while not missing a beat. Billy Ashbaugh was an additional drummer brought on the tour to help keep the time within the show. Justin Hayward did such an amazing job on the guitar and vocals, the show wouldn’t have been the same without him while John Lodge provided the bottom end with his bass guitar and brought along some sweet vocals as well. Rounding out The Moody Blues sound, Alan Hewitt performed some amazing keyboards and vocals. Everything he did was just like the original recordings. Norda Mullen is a multi-instrumentalist who fills in so many gaps for The Moody Blues, but really stands out with her flute. The tour also included Julie Ragins, another multi-instrumentalist who just seemed to play everything. She quickly proved she wasn’t there to take up space. Together these people are the current lineup for The Moody Blues and they shouldn’t change a thing. These professional musicians stand out within their instruments of choice. They famously blend so well with one another.

The Moody Blues is just an amazing band in a live setting. Age does not seem to affect this band in a negative way, the musicians defying Father Time. Their musicianship seems to keep getting better as the years pass. It’s always a pleasure to see people refine their talents and put them on display for everyone to see. Ravinia was just a perfect setting for this nostalgic display. It was a delight for everyone who was there.

Saturday night was a night of firsts for Ravinia, hosting its first Hip Hop show that included a lineup of first-time performers on the stage, and featuring the one and only Common. One does not typically think of Hip-Hop when thinking of the outdoor picnic grounds and pavilion of Ravinia, but tonight even with the chance of rain (rain ponchos provided) fans from Chicago and its surrounding suburbs showed up in high numbers to groove and dance the night away.

With sponsorship from United and 107.5 WGCI, DJ Anthony took to the decks, making his Ravinia debut to open the night at this all ages concert. Fans know him from his radio spots on GCI and his current work as a producer on Cody Chestnut’s and the new Gorrilaz album.

Next up, was Tay (Taylor Bennett), another Chicago native from 79th Street and brother of Chance the Rapper, also making his Ravinia debut. With samples of tracks from his album Restoration of an American Idol and Broad Shoulders, the audience got a good feel for this up and coming rapper and his style of music. He was invited by Common as a late addition to the night’s musical lineup.

After twenty-five years in the music business, the Golden Globe and Grammy winner, and Oscar nominated musician for the theme song from Selma (“Glory”), once again took the stage in his hometown Chicago (well, Highland Park, anyway – close enough). This appearance marked Common’s first ever performance at Ravinia. I have seen quite a few shows at Ravinia, there are often a handful of dancers sprinkled throughout the crowd, scattered among the seated in the pavilion and across the grass, many standing on their feet for portions of a show. But the crowd response for Common was the most avid I have personally seen at the festival. The moment, Common stepped onto the stage, the entire pavilion arose from their seats, most remaining on their feet dancing and cheering for the entire show. Those with lawn tickets pressed themselves against the barricades while others danced atop the grass. Common pulled the crowd in, never letting go, playing his award-winning hit "Glory" along with songs that spanned throughout his twenty-five-year career known and loved by his fans. His was a high energy performance, and with meaning, as Common reinforced the purpose behind his Black America Again album. His message is simple in that supporting a community of people working together, enjoying music and life together, we are building a safer and more connected Chicago and world.

There is much more to see and be seen of Common in the future. With Common’s newfound success at the festival, perhaps more Hip-Hop acts will be scheduled for Ravinia. “I wondered if they liked Hip-Hop at Ravinia”, the artist jested to cheers across the venue. Yes, we do. With so much energy and love in the air, it was an unbelievable night of Ravinia firsts. www.Ravinia.org

For ticket information, visit Ravinia.org or call 847-266-5100. The complete 2017 season schedule follows. Note that artists and programs are subject to change, and opening acts for some concerts may be announced at a later date. Artists making their Ravinia debut are marked with a dagger (†). Repertoire being performed at Ravinia for the first time is marked with an asterisk (*). Lawn ticket prices that increase by $5 on the day of the concert are marked with a carat (^).

Take a seat within London’s Philharmonia Orchestra as it plays the thrilling climax from Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen—a once-in-a-lifetime vantage point in this unique virtual-reality experience.

Tehorah (“pure” in Hebrew) is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of German–Israeli diplomatic relations, combining music of 1920s Weimar Berlin, Yiddish klezmer, and contemporary Hebrew songs.

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 29, 7:30 p.m. — Pavilion

Lifehouse

Switchfoot

Tickets: reserved $80 / $65 / lawn $38^ — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 30, 6:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Celebrating John Adams at 70

Chad Hoopes, Violin †

David Fung, Piano

Mozart: Violin Sonata No. 20

Dvořák: Romantic Pieces

John Adams: Road Movies *

Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 7

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 30, 7:30 p.m. — Pavilion

John Butler Trio †

The Waifs †

Tickets: reserved $65 / $55 / lawn $27^ — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 31, 6:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Daniel Schlosberg, Piano †

Inna Faliks, Piano †

Mahler (arr. Zemlinsky): Symphony No. 6 (for four-hands piano)

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

Friday, September 1, 6:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Pacifica Quartet

Complete Beethoven String Quartets, Part 1

String Quartet No. 3

String Quartet No. 11 (“Serioso”)

String Quartet No. 6

String Quartet No. 16

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, September 1, 7:30 p.m. — Pavilion

Michael Bolton †

Gladys Knight

Tickets: reserved $100 / $80 / lawn $44^ — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 2, 1:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Pacifica Quartet

Complete Beethoven String Quartets, Part 2

String Quartet No. 12

String Quartet No. 1

String Quartet No. 9

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at noon

Saturday, September 2, 6:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Pacifica Quartet

Complete Beethoven String Quartets, Part 3

String Quartet No. 5

String Quartet No. 8

String Quartet No. 13 (with Grosse Fuge)

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 3, 1:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Pacifica Quartet

Complete Beethoven String Quartets, Part 4

String Quartet No. 2

String Quartet No. 7

String Quartet No. 14

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at noon

Sunday, September 3, 6:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Pacifica Quartet

Complete Beethoven String Quartets, Part 5

String Quartet No. 4

String Quartet No. 10 (“Harp”)

String Quartet No. 15

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Monday, September 4, 6:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Simón Bolívar String Quartet †

Haydn: String Quartet No. 29 (“How do you do?”)

Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1

Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 9

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 5, 6:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Bryan Wallick, Piano

Bach: Italian Concerto

Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel

Albéniz: Selections from Iberia

Evocación

El puerto

Liszt: Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B–A–C–H *

Liszt: Norma Fantasy

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 7, 7:30 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Ruth Page Festival of Dance

Concert Dance Inc.

The Chicago Project

Program to include the premiere of a work exploring the human kinesthetic and emotional relationship to the form, texture, materials, and design of architecture, especially Chicago architecture, including accompanying images created by Frank Vodvarka

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, September 8, 7:30 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Ruth Page Festival of Dance

Concert Dance Inc.

The Chicago Project

Program to include the premiere of a work exploring the human kinesthetic and emotional relationship to the form, texture, materials, and design of architecture, especially Chicago architecture, including accompanying images created by Frank Vodvarka

Tickets: reserved $10 / no lawn — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, September 8, 8:00 p.m. — Pavilion

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Tickets: reserved $100 / $90 / lawn $38^ — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 9, 7:30 p.m. — Pavilion

Stevie Nicks †

Tickets: reserved $200 / $190 / lawn $70^ — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 10, 7:30 p.m. — Pavilion

Stevie Nicks

Tickets: reserved $200 / $190 / lawn $70^ — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 14, 8:00 p.m. — Pavilion

National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela †

Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor †

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5

Evencio Castellanos: Santa Cruz de Pacairigua *

Julián Orbón: Xilofono from Tres versiones sinfónicas *

Camargo Guarnieri: Dansa brasileira *

Silvestre Revueltas: Sensemayá

Bernstein: Waltz from Divertimento for Orchestra

Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez: Batuque from Reisado do pastoreio

Ginastera: Danza final (Malambo) from Estancia

Tickets: reserved $90 / $25 / lawn $10 — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, September 15, 8:00 p.m. — Pavilion

Smokey Robinson

Tickets: reserved $80 / $70 / lawn $33^ — Park opens at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 16, 11:00 a.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Kids Concert series

The Performer’s School

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Tickets: reserved $15 / no lawn — Park opens at 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, September 16, 2:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Kids Concert series

The Performer’s School

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Tickets: reserved $15 / no lawn — Park opens at 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 16, 5:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Kids Concert series

The Performer’s School

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Tickets: reserved $15 / no lawn — Park opens at 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 16, 7:00 p.m. — Pavilion

TLC †

Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath

Biz Markie †

All-4-One †

O-Town †

Snap! †

I Love the ’90s: The Party Continues Tour

Tickets: reserved $102 / $82 / lawn $46^ — Park opens at 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 17, 11:00 a.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Kids Concert series

The Performer’s School

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Tickets: reserved $15 / no lawn — Park opens at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, September 17, 2:00 p.m. — Bennett Gordon Hall

Kids Concert series

The Performer’s School

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Tickets: reserved $15 / no lawn — Park opens at 1:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 17, 2:00 p.m. — Full Park

Fiesta Ravinia

Daylong celebration of Mexican culture, including Latin cuisine throughout the park, Mariachi bands, children’s performances, family activities, dance lessons, and a Mexican-American art show

Tickets: free with park admission for evening concert

Sunday, September 17, 6:00 p.m. — Pavilion

Los Tigres del Norte

Natalia Jiménez †

Tickets: reserved $85 / $65 / lawn $33^ — Park opens at 2:00 p.m.

Ravinia welcomes all festival fans to follow, connect, and interact online at facebook.com/raviniafestival, twitter.com/raviniafestival, and instagram.com/raviniafestival. Ravinia is a not-for-profit organization. For more information visit Ravinia.org.

Guest ensembles include the Lucerne Symphony; National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela; and Apollo’s Fire, the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, all in their Ravinia debuts; along with the returns of The Knights and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

CSO performs the award-winning scores to all three Lord of the Rings films as the movies are shown on consecutive nights; Oscar darling La La Land Live with Orchestra receives Midwest premiere.

Tributes set for three great Americans: Henry Mancini, Ira Gershwin, and a multi-concert celebration of the 70th birthday of John Adams.

Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman today announced the not-forprofit festival’s complete 2017 summer lineup—more than 140 events from June 3 through Sept. 17— including the 82nd annual residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as well as visits by the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela with conductor Gustavo Dudamel in his Ravinia debut. In addition to Dudamel, 58 artists make their Ravinia debuts, including Stevie Nicks, John Mellencamp, Pentatonix, Common, Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr., and Ryan Speedo Green. Tickets are available to donors beginning March 22 and go on sale to the general public on May 9, exclusively at Ravinia.org. “I’m frequently asked what defines a successful season. Because there are so many ways to enjoy Ravinia, that answer is different for everyone, and their defining moments might be a big light-and-sound spectacular with a legendary hit machine or a quiet evening on the lawn with a chamber concert flowing from the Martin Theatre, one of our popular film projects or one of our magnificent classical masterpieces, performed as only the Chicago Symphony Orchestra can,” Kauffman said. “It’s an all-of-the-above summer at Ravinia in 2017.”

$25/$10/FREE CLASSICAL PRICING Ravinia’s popular pricing returns this summer, with most Pavilion seats for all CSO concerts selling for just $25 apiece. Most lawn tickets will be priced at $10 each, and lawn admission for all classical concerts—CSO, special events, recitals, and chamber music—is free for children and students through college. A 10-punch lawn pass will also be sold, granting lawn admission for as little as $7 per concert. On film nights, the $25 price for a reserved seat in the Pavilion is the same for a lawn ticket, so patrons can choose the experience they prefer—a seat under the roof with a view of the orchestra or a picnic on the lawn before the giant movie screen—without cost being an issue. The $10 BGH Classics series offers up close-and-personal musical experiences in Ravinia’s most intimate concert space, the 450-seat Bennett Gordon Hall, for only $10 for a reserved seat, less than the cost of a movie ticket.

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RESIDENCY Ravinia has hosted the CSO in its summer residency since 1936, and the two institutions recently agreed to an eight-year extension of their current contract—which would have expired in 2018— extending the unique relationship through 2026. “I’m so proud that one of my first opportunities in becoming chairman of the Ravinia Festival Association was to work with my predecessor John Anderson and Welz Kauffman in negotiating this unprecedented agreement with our CSO counterparts, Helen Zell and Jeff Alexander,” said Jennifer Steans. “I literally grew up attending CSO concerts at Ravinia and find particular satisfaction in seeing today’s youngsters discovering the ensemble that stands as one of Chicago’s eternal assets.” Modeled on the successful 2016 CSO residency, which averaged more than 6,000 listeners per concert, the 18 concerts of 2017 intertwine staples of the symphonic repertoire; a variety on the podium, from the returns of James Levine, Christoph Eschenbach, and Susanna Mälkki to three conductors making their CSO debuts; popular movie nights, with all three Lord of the Rings films; and attractively priced tickets.

• LEVINE’S CREATION: One of the most important figures in Ravinia’s history is also one of the most important musicians in the world. James Levine so enjoyed his long-awaited return to the festival podium last year after a two-decade absence that he agreed to return this summer to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in one of his favorite “party” pieces, Haydn’s The Creation, an oratorio based on the Old Testament story, on Aug. 8. The evening features the stars of Levine’s current Metropolitan Opera production of Mozart’s Idomeneo, soprano Nadine Sierra in her CSO debut and tenor Matthew Polenzani, along with bass John Relyea.

• ESCHENBACH/LANG LANG/GALA: In a rare return to the festival, Christoph Eschenbach teams up with his most celebrated discovery, superstar pianist Lang Lang, for the Women’s Board’s July 29 Gala Benefit Evening to raise funds for Ravinia and its Reach*Teach*Play education programs. Lang Lang will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 on a program that also includes Dvořák’s Carnival Overture and Symphony No. 8. On a separate program, Eschenbach also showcases one of his newest protégés, Ray Chen, playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in his CSO debut on a July 28 program with the composer’s “Reformation” Symphony, and the CSO debut of soprano Marisol Montalvo with Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915. The soloists share the spotlight in Mozart’s “L’amerò, sarò costante” for soprano and violin from Il rè pastore.

• RACHMANINOFF’S MASTERWORKS: In addition to Lang Lang’s gala performance of the composer’s First Piano Concerto, Garrick Ohlsson returns for Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (often featured as a harrowing high-wire act in films such as Shine, the biopic on resurgent touring concert pianist David Helfgott). The Aug. 10 concert, conducted by Krzysztof Urbański, also features Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. Denis Matsuev plays Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini under conductor Gianandrea Noseda on Aug. 1. (The visiting Lucerne Symphony Orchestra will perform Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, as noted below.)

• PIANIST YUJA WANG: Yuja Wang makes her Ravinia debut with the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1. Recently featured in the New Yorker for being fashion-forward in terms of musicality and couture, Wang has become an international sensation, with the New York Times reporting, “She seems to have everything: speed, flexibility, pianistic thunder, and interpretive nuance.” One of the hottest conductors in the world at age 26, Wang’s recording partner Lionel Bringuier makes his concurrent Ravinia and CSO debuts on the July 11 program, which also includes Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

• JOSHUA BELL’S SCOTTISH FANTASY: Superstar violinist Joshua Bell returns—after last season’s soaring success sharing the Ravinia stage with longtime friend Chris Botti—to perform Bruch’s homage to the highlands, the Scottish Fantasy. Music director of the National Orchestra of Belgium, Andrey Boreyko makes his Ravinia debut with the July 12 program, which also features selections from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.

• BACK-TO-BACK MÄLKKI: One of the few women conductors of international repute, the charismatic Susanna Mälkki, who recently won rave reviews for her Metropolitan Opera debut with L’amour de Loin, pairs Beethoven with her Finnish compatriot Sibelius on two programs. She conducts the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Vadim Repin and Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony on July 20, and then returns to conduct Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with Kirill Gerstein and the Sibelius Symphony No. 2 on July 21.

• LORD OF THE RINGS CYCLE: Over three different summers—to increasing buzz and demand— Ravinia presented each of the Lord of the Rings films with their scores digitally removed so that the CSO could perform Howard Shore’s award-winning music live as the movies were shown in their entirety on screens in the Pavilion and on the lawn. Ravinia will bring back all three films, The Fellowship of the Ring (Aug. 18), The Two Towers (Aug. 19), and The Return of the King (Aug. 20), over three consecutive evenings, with Ludwig Wicki reprising his conducting role. The Chicago Children’s Choir, Chicago Chorale, and The Lakeside Singers will combine to perform the score’s extensive choral parts.

• GALWAY TRIBUTE TO MANCINI: Sir James Galway pays tribute to one of the most prolific and awarded (20 Grammys and four Oscars) composers of all time, Henry Mancini, on an Aug. 6 program that includes music from The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (“Moon River”), Victor/Victoria, The Days of Wine and Roses, and much more. The tuneful concert features flutist Lady Jeanne Galway and vocalists Ashley Brown and Tony DeSare under the baton of film expert Steven Reineke. Reineke was a protégé of “Prince of Pops” Erich Kunzel, who enjoyed a close collaborative relationship with Mancini and the Galways, and he will conduct from Kunzel’s personally notated scores.

• TRIBUTE TO IRA GERSHWIN: Chicago pianist Kevin Cole, who built a career on his acclaimed interpretations of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, reprises that masterwork and also turns his attention to the composer’s famous partner and brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin—the wordsmith who actually gave Rhapsody in Blue its title. Cole has presided over wildly popular tributes to Marvin Hamlisch and Cole Porter at Ravinia, and has developed this program in that style, applying his loving attention and musical know-how to one of America’s all-time greatest songwriters in I Love to Rhyme: A Tribute to Ira Gershwin on Aug. 13. Dancer/singer Ryan VanDenBoom and vocalist Sylvia McNair, who also headlined the Hamlisch and Porter tributes, return with conductor Emil de Cou.

• TCHAIKOVSKY SPECTACULAR: Tchaikovsky gets his turn at telling the tale of the immortal star-crossed lovers when his Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture kicks off Ravinia’s annual “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” on July 16. Making his simultaneous CSO and Ravinia debuts, Moscowborn Dima Slobodeniouk, artistic director of the Sibelius Festival, conducts the popular concert that features the “1812” Overture with live cannon fire. Simon Trpčeski joins the all-Tchaikovsky evening for the First Piano Concerto.

• BRONFMAN’S BRAHMS: In his simultaneous CSO and Ravinia debuts on July 18, Edward Gardner, who recently led Der Rosenkavalier to raves at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, conducts Elgar’s “Enigma” Variations and the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 with one of the world’s most admired pianists, Yefim Bronfman.

• LUGANSKY’S EMPEROR: Pianist Nikolai Lugansky performs Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto on a July 25 program that also features Harmonielehre (The Book of Harmony) by John Adams, under the baton of Kent Nagano in his Ravinia debut.

VISITING ORCHESTRAS/ENSEMBLES In addition to the CSO residency, Ravinia will host several ensembles throughout the summer.

• LUCERNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Visiting Ravinia for the first time, the orchestra of the Swiss town where Rachmaninoff and Wagner lived will be led by its music director, James Gaffigan, in two Pavilion concerts populated with music associated with the namesake lake. On Aug. 22 they will play the William Tell Overture, which Rossini set on Shepherd’s Day on Lake Lucerne; Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with RSMI alumnus InMo Yang as soloist; and the Symphony No. 1 by Brahms, for whom a visit to Lucerne figured into his rumored love triangle with Clara and Robert Schumann. On Aug. 23 they’ll perform Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll; Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with soloist Behzod Abduraimov (“His sound has an appealing warmth even in the most testosterone-fueled outbursts,” says the New York Times); and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.

• NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF VENEZUELA: One of the most influential conductors on the planet and chief proponent of the El Sistema model of student orchestras, used by Ravinia in its Reach*Teach*Play programs, Gustavo Dudamel comes to Ravinia for the first time with his youth orchestra, comprising young Sistema musicians handpicked by the conductor. The Sept. 14 concert features Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 in addition to works by Hispanic composers Evencio Castellanos, Julián Orbón, Camargo Guarnieri, Silvestre Revueltas, and Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez, as well as Ginastera’s Danza final from Estancia. Dudamel and his young musicians will also work with students from Cook and Lake Counties who participate in Ravinia’s education programs—headed by Ravinia’s Director of Reach*Teach*Play, who was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of El Sistema USA—which serve 75,000 people annually. Using the El Sistema model, which avoids classroom music theory and instead gets students playing their instruments from day one, Ravinia establishes orchestras, providing instruments and instructors to schools that do not have music programs of their own.

• LA LA LAND LIVE: The 2017 winner of six Oscars, including Best Director and Best Actress, writer-director Damien Chazelle’s charming movie about a wannabe movie star (Emma Stone) who falls for a jazz-obsessed pianist (Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling) will be shown on screens on the lawn and in the Pavilion while the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra plays the Oscar-winning score (including Best Song “City of Stars”) live on June 18. John Legend, who makes his third Ravinia appearance this summer, also has a supporting role in the film that he also co-produced.

• APOLLO’S FIRE: Performing Vivaldi’s seminal The Four Seasons, the acclaimed periodinstrument ensemble Apollo’s Fire, The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, makes its Ravinia debut with its music director, Jeannette Sorrell, conducting from the harpsichord on July 27.

• THE KNIGHTS: In its 10th concert at Ravinia, one of the classical world’s most cutting-edge and elastic ensembles will perform Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Purcell’s Fantasy upon One Note, and selections from Canteloube’s Chants d’Auvergne, joined by mezzo-soprano Susan Graham. The Aug. 17 Martin Theatre concert also features two works by John Adams (see Adams section below).

VIRTUAL REALITY ORCHESTRA London’s Philharmonia Orchestra will also come to Ravinia—“virtually.” Ravinia ticketholders are invited to virtually take a seat within the orchestra, playing the thrilling climax of Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen, for a once-in-a-lifetime vantage point through this unique virtual reality experience from July 11 through 23 at the Ravinia Tent on the North Lawn. Admission is free for those attending concerts on those nights. Free tickets can be arranged in advance at Ravinia.org or in person on concert nights, pending availability. “The Philharmonia’s digital projects have taken place all over the world and I am delighted that we are now bringing our latest virtual reality experience, The Virtual Orchestra, to Ravinia,” said Salonen. “The incredible power of virtual reality is that it is disappointing to leave it, to come back to reality. There is no doubt that for classical music, virtual reality will be a very powerful, useful medium, and I am very excited to be taking part in this project.”

NONCLASSICAL LINEUP Superstars abound on Ravinia’s 2017 roster, including long-awaited debuts and the returns of audience favorites. Playing the festival for the first time are Sammy Hagar & the Circle with Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Vic Johnson on June 19; Chicago’s own Common on June 24; multiple Grammy winner Lila Downs on July 1; Andrew Bird on July 23; Tony-winning Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. on Aug. 13; Alanis Morissette on Aug. 25; John Mellencamp on Aug. 26 and 27; Pentatonix on Aug. 28; Australian roots-rockers the John Butler Trio with special guest The Waifs on Aug. 30; and Stevie Nicks on Sept. 9 and 10. Returning favorites include Pat Metheny with Antonio Sanchez, Linda May Han Oh, and Gwilym Simcock on June 14; Seu Jorge Presents The Life Aquatic: A Tribute to David Bowie on June 15; 2017 Grammy winner Willie Nelson on June 16; Aretha Franklin on June 17; the Gipsy Kings on June 23; jazz pianist/singer Diana Krall June 28; The Moody Blues with their Days of Future Passed 50th Anniversary Tour on June 30; Sheryl Crow on July 7; Tony Bennett on Aug. 4; Darius Rucker on Aug. 5; Santana in his Transmogrify Tour on Aug. 11 and 12; Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons on Sept. 8; and Motown legend Smokey Robinson on Sept. 15. Ravinia will also present bigger-than-life pairings such as John Legend in his Darkness & Light Tour with special guest Gallant on June 10; Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald on June 27; the all-American The Beach Boys and The Temptations on July 2; OneRepublic with Fitz & the Tantrums in their Ravinia debut and James Arthur on July 14 and 15; Blondie and Garbage in its Ravinia debut on July 22; Judy Collins and Stephen Stills (he wrote “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” about her) on July 26; Chris Thile’s Punch Brothers and I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan) on Aug. 14; Lifehouse and Switchfoot on Aug. 29; Michael Bolton, in his Ravinia debut, and Gladys Knight on Sept. 1; and Los Tigres del Norte and Natalia Jiménez on Sept. 17. The festival also brings together six hit-making bands in “I Love the ’90s: The Party Continues,” starring TLC, Biz Markie, All4-One, O-Town, and Snap!, all in their Ravinia debuts, along with Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath on Sept. 16.

CELEBRATION: JOHN ADAMS AT 70

After presenting the Chicago premieres of the composer’s El Niño and The Gospel According to the Other Mary, Ravinia will celebrate the 70th birthday of Pulitzer Prize winner John Adams with concerts this season.

• NAGANO DEBUT: One of the world’s most sought-after conductors of John Adams, the acclaimed Kent Nagano makes his long-awaited Ravinia debut on July 25, leading the CSO in Harmonielehre (The Book of Harmony). The program also features pianist Nikolai Lugansky performing Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto.

• SHAKER LOOPS: Ravinia favorites and 2017 Grammy nominees the Lincoln Trio will be the core players for Shaker Loops for string septet. The title reflects two concepts that Adams envisioned, concentric circles of water and the repetitive dance movements of the Shakers, both represented by oscillations on the strings in this 1978 piece. The program also includes the first installment in a multiyear cycle of Beethoven’s piano trios. (Part of the $10 BGH Classics series)

• CHAMBER SYMPHONY/COMMON TONES IN SIMPLE TIME: Inspired by an odd mix of Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony score and frenetic cartoon energy, Adams’s 1992 Chamber Symphony will be performed by The Knights on Aug. 17 in the Martin Theatre. They will also perform the composer’s Common Tones in Simple Time, which toys with the listener’s perception of time and space.

• ADAMS FOR TWO PIANOS: Twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton perform two pieces Adams composed for two pianos, Roll Over Beethoven (in its Midwest premiere) and Hallelujah Junction. The Aug. 24 program also features sets of variations for four-hands piano by Mendelssohn and Mozart, as well as further two-piano works in a rondo by Chopin and Debussy’s En blanc et noir. (Part of the $10 BGH Classics series)

• ROAD MOVIES: Adams had motion in mind when he composed this melodic piece with a “swing” component, which will be performed by violinist Chad Hoopes and pianist David Fung on Aug. 30. The program also includes Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 20, Dvorak’s Romantic Pieces, and Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 7. (Part of the $10 BGH Classics series)

CHAMBER MUSIC/RECITALS Although celebrated for providing one of the finest outdoor music experiences, Ravinia also presents one of the world’s most expansive chamber music series, hosting more than 50 indoor concerts and recitals in its two halls, the exquisite 850-seat Martin Theatre and the state-of-the-art 450-seat Bennett Gordon Hall, home to the $10 BGH Classics series. Martin Theatre concerts are broadcast to the lawn; Bennett Gordon Hall concerts are not. Highlights include:

• RYAN SPEEDO GREEN: After getting off to a rough start in an abusive home and a stint in juvenile detention—as cinematically depicted in the New York Times bestseller Sing for Your Life: A Story of Race, Music and Family—the bass-baritone turned his life around and is building an international career launched by the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition. He makes his Ravinia debut in a Martin Theatre recital on July 3.

• QUARTET DUET: The Emerson String Quartet and the young Calidore String Quartet (which Gramophone magazine praises as “the epitome of confidence and finesse”) team up for a July 24 Martin Theatre concert built around Two Pieces for String Octet by Shostakovich. The program also features Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 11 (“Serioso”), the String Sextet from Capriccio by Richard Strauss, and Mendelssohn’s String Octet.

• CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS: Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, a close, personal friend of Olivier Messiaen, performs the composer’s complete Catalogue of the Birds, which re-creates the songs of nature’s winged music makers, on July 31 in the Martin Theatre.

• WALDEN POND: The St. Charles Singers celebrate the bicentennial of Henry David Thoreau with the musical adaptation of his existential masterpiece Walden by Dominick Argento on Aug. 20. (Part of the $10 BGH Classics series)

• A ‘KNIGHT’ WITH SIR JAMES AND LADY JEANNE GALWAY: In addition to their CSO concert, the flutists will put together an intimate recital in the Martin Theatre on Aug. 7.

• MORRIS ROBINSON: The award-winning bass sings works by Schubert, Bernstein, Verdi, and Jerome Kern along with American spirituals on Aug. 9 in the Martin Theatre, accompanied by Kevin Murphy, director of the RSMI Program for Singers.

• JONATHAN BISS BEETHOVEN CYCLE: After launching his multiyear complete cycle of Beethoven’s piano sonatas last year, one of the foremost authorities on the composer returns with two more installments. On Aug. 15, Biss will perform Piano Sonatas Nos. 15 (the “Pastoral”), 20, 3, 27, and 28. On Aug. 17, he will perform Piano Sonatas Nos. 19, 16, 7, 2, and 31. (Both concerts are part of the $10 BGH Classics series.)

• SPIDER SALOFF TRIBUTE TO PEGGY LEE: One of the most popular cabaret singers Chicago has ever produced pays loving tribute to the sexy jazz singer in the one-woman show The Cool Heat of Peggy Lee on Aug. 25. (Part of the $10 BGH Classics series)

• COMPLETE BEETHOVEN STRING QUARTETS: Postponed from last season, the Pacifica Quartet performs all 16 of Beethoven’s string quartets over five different programs between Sept. 1 and 3. (All part of the $10 BGH Classics series)

• CONCERT DANCE INC.’S CHICAGO PROJECT: The performing arm of the Ruth Page Foundation does the impossible, literally dancing about architecture in The Chicago Project, which explores the kinesthetic and emotional bonds between the human body and the city’s world-famous architecture on Sept. 7 and 8. (Part of the $10 BGH Classics series)

RAVINIA’S STEANS MUSIC INSTITUTE The best young musicians from around the world compete for about 60 coveted fellowships each year to Ravinia’s highly immersive and highly regarded summer conservatory to work individually and in ensembles with the superb faculty.

• $10 BGH CLASSICS: Current RSMI participants will perform seven concerts on the $10 BGH Classics series. The mostly Chicago-based jazz musicians will showcase their ensemble, writing, and improvisational skills in the “Jazz Grandstand” on June 16; participants in the Program for Piano and Strings will perform works by Dvořák along with a selection of other composers on July 10, 17, and 19; and participants in the Program for Singers celebrate the music of Finland on Aug. 3, Schumann and Brahms on Aug. 10, and American music theater—including songs by John Adams, Leonard Bernstein, and William Bolcom—on Aug. 14.

• MASTER CLASSES: Among the most intriguing events Ravinia offers is the series of free master classes at which the young professionals of RSMI expose themselves to critique and instruction in front of the festival’s discerning audiences. This summer the master classes will be led by bass player Linda May Han Oh—herself an RSMI alumna, who performs with Pat Metheny on the same evening’s Pavilion concert—on June 14; pianist Robert Levin on June 29; cellist Frans Helmerson on July 7; violinist Miriam Fried, director of the Program for Piano and Strings, on July 13; pianist Kevin Murphy, director of the program for Singers, on July 26; bass Morris Robinson on Aug. 7; and bass John Relyea on Aug. 9.

• MATINEE CONCERTS: Participants in the institute give free matinee concerts all summer long at 2 p.m. in Bennett Gordon Hall. Piano and Strings concerts are set for June 30 and July 1, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 21, and 22, and participants in the Program for Singers will perform on July 30 and Aug. 12.

• FACULTY PERFORMANCES: Violinists Miriam Fried and Mihaela Martin, violists Paul Biss and Atar Arad, cellist Frans Helmerson, and pianist Anton Nel, all RSMI faculty members, join forces for a recital of Mozart and Ravel on July 5 in the Martin Theatre; pianist Kevin Murphy and bass Morris Robinson unite in a recital of classical composers and American spirituals on Aug. 9 in the Martin Theatre; and pianist Jonathan Biss continues his multiyear traversal of the complete Beethoven sonatas on Aug. 15 and 17.

• ALUMNI PERFORMANCES: World-class artists who have honed their craft at RSMI perform with the most accomplished ensembles—including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Knights—in the most illustrious halls around the world, and Ravinia is always thrilled to welcome them back. This summer 19 alumni return on a variety of concerts, including bass player Linda May Han Oh with Pat Metheny on June 14; pianist Alon Goldstein and the Fine Arts Quartet with Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 23 and 24 on June 17; violinist Joseph Lin as first violinist of the Juilliard String Quartet on June 20; Yuja Wang, who has become one of the most important pianists of her generation, making her Ravinia debut on July 11; cellist Paul Dwyer as a member of Apollo’s Fire, which makes its Ravinia debut in the Martin Theatre with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons on July 27; soprano Nadine Sierra performing solo parts in Haydn’s Creation with the CSO under the baton of James Levine on Aug. 8; and violinist InMo Yang joins the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra in its Ravinia debut on Aug. 22.

FIESTA RAVINIA The world’s most celebrated Norteño band, Los Tigres del Norte, and Spanish singer and Telemundo star Natalia Jiménez headline Ravinia’s second annual celebration of Mexican independence in a daylong festival on Sept. 17 that will include Latin cuisine throughout the park, Mariachi bands, children’s performances, family activities, dance lessons, and a Mexican-American art show. The park opens for the special festivities at 2 p.m. and the main-stage show begins at 6 p.m.

KIDS CONCERT SERIES In addition to admitting all children and students through college for free to the lawn for every classical performance, Ravinia also presents a popular series of concerts intended specifically for young listeners. Tickets are specially priced at $10 to $15 for reserved seats or $5 on the lawn (where applicable).

• CATSKILL PUPPET THEATER: The ensemble gives three performances of Sister Rain and Brother Sun, a nature-themed show featuring colorful set and costumes, plenty of audience interaction, and original songs, at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. on June 3 in Bennett Gordon Hall.

• STARS OF THE PEKING ACROBATS: These international entertainers pack their shows with everything but gravity as they defy the senses with a dazzling array of colorful costumes, exotic music, and out-of-this-world stunts at the special family time of 7 p.m. on June 29.

• OPERA FOR THE YOUNG: The company that reimagines classic opera for kids presents its adaptation of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love on Aug. 12.

• JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT: The Performer’s School, which made its Ravinia debut last summer with a hit adaptation of Winnie the Pooh, returns with a new production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice classic in six performances: 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17 in Bennett Gordon Hall.

• The Kids Concerts series will also feature the Magical Strings of Youth of the Betty Haag Academy of Music on June 3; the Ko-Thi Dance Company on June 17; Laurie Berkner on July 15; and the Joyous String Ensemble on July 29.

• to present performances of a full range of classical music in its open-air Pavilion and enclosed recital halls, by the world’s greatest composers and musicians, along with a variety of other kinds of light classical, jazz, and popular music;

• to maintain a beautiful park that is welcoming to all and attractive to families in which the music experience is enhanced by a beautiful environment and excellent dining opportunities;

• to enable gifted young performers to study under great teachers and perform in concert settings; and

• to develop broader and more diverse audiences for classical music through education and outreach programs and by maintaining affordable ticket prices.

2017 SPONSORS

Ravinia is a not-for-profit that earns about half its annual operating revenue to achieve its mission through ticket sales. The rest comes from support of private donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Everyone involved at Ravinia would like to thank the following sponsors for their support:

• Lead Reach*Teach*Play Sponsor: Allstate Insurance Company “As a longtime Ravinia supporter, Allstate is pleased to partner with the organization in its mission to enrich young lives through the Reach*Teach*Play programs,” said Don Civgin, President, Emerging Businesses. “Because Allstate recognizes that Good Starts YoungSM, we applaud Ravinia’s commitment to education and public outreach with their focus on Chicago’s children.”

• Location: Ravinia is located at Lake Cook and Green Bay Roads in Highland Park, about 20 minutes north of Chicago. The Metra Union Pacific North line stops right at Ravinia’s main entrance. On-site parking is limited, so Ravinia runs a free, handicap-accessible bus service to and from remote lots, mostly along the railroad line. Parking on residential streets is prohibited by City ordinance, and violators will be ticketed by local police.

• Drop-offs: Personal cars, driver services (such as Uber), and taxis may not drop guests off on residential streets. The general drop-off points are the Braeside Metra Station and the main (west) gate. Local police will ticket violators.

• Secondary Market: Ticket buyers should be certain to obtain tickets through Ravinia.org. Ravinia is not affiliated with any secondary-market ticket sellers and cannot be held responsible for fraudulent tickets. Tickets for some shows will sell out to donors prior to public sales. The best way to obtain tickets to the summer’s hottest shows is to become a financial supporter of the not-for-profit festival.

• No Smoking: Smoking of any type, including “vaping” and use of electronic cigarettes, is prohibited on Ravinia’s grounds and on Highland Park streets. There are designated smoking areas in Ravinia parking lots.

• Security: Guns, explosives, and other weapons are strictly prohibited at Ravinia. Guests will be subject to bag search and a “wanding” of their person upon entrance and reentrance both to the park and to the Pavilion. Those refusing cooperation will not be allowed to enter.

• Weather: Ravinia concerts go on rain or shine. Should a concert be canceled due to severe weather in the area, Ravinia will make every effort to contact ticket buyers. Guests can monitor local Highland Park weather through the National Weather Service (ZIP code is 60035).

• Box Office: Tickets for these events and the rest of the summer 2017 lineup may be requested by Ravinia donors at the Affiliate level and above beginning March 22, and the Friend level on April 27. Bravo- and Encore-level donors can begin requesting lawn tickets on May 2. General public ticket sales begin at 5 a.m. on May 9, at Ravinia.org. The Ravinia Box Office phone lines will open for orders on May 10 at 847-266-5100. For more information, please visit Ravinia.org.

• ALL ARTISTS, PRICES, AND PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Refunds are not given unless a concert is canceled in its entirety.

In 2003, a little show called One Tree Hill hit the WB and its theme some “I Don't Want to Be” was quickly burned onto mix CDs by denim mini skirt, tie-belt, fedora wearing teen in the country. That theme song was sung by Gavin Degraw who stirred up a bit of early 2000 nostalgia as he performed at Ravinia with The Fray on June 25th.

Ravinia was packed to the brim to see the piano playing artists. Every seat in the Pavilion was taken, with swarms of people crowding over the railing to try and catch a view of the stage. I wouldn't have thought the headliners would have drawn such a large crowd with lawn seats running at $40 apiece and the heat climbing to just over 90 degrees at sunset. But with every grassy nook taken by late twenty, early thirty-somethings casually sipping drinks while they weren’t legally allowed to drink when the artists first debuted, I found myself pleasantly surprised.

Gavin Degraw opened the evening, playing some of my own favorites from his many albums including “Chariot,” “I’m in Love with a Girl,” “Not Over You,” and his most notable “I Don't Want to Be.” His set played for nearly an hour and a half and he could have played until the gates closed without argument from the audience. The Fray didn't play as long. In fact, their set had more covers than originals. “How to Save a Life,” the band’s second single and the song that propelled them to worldwide fame in 2005, was the only song that seemed to resonate with the crowd. The only other song that the audience seemed to know of theirs was “Over My Head,” and without many other top 40 Billboard topping songs to note, The Fray paled in comparison to Degraw’s soulful set. But the pairing between the singer-songwriter and American rock band went together like red wine and cheese. Both of the artist’s songs were tailor-made for dramatic TV moments. The next time the duo come to Ravinia their sets should be accompanied by a large movie screen with TV clips from early 2000 shows. Think The Fray providing theme music to dramatic scenes on Scrubs and Grey's Anatomy, Gavin Degraw playing over sappy moments on One Tree Hill, The OC, Gilmore Girls. It would probably draw double the audience and it would certainly double the Y2K nostalgia.

Ravinia is just getting their summer season going and has an incredible line-up with shows through September that span dozens of interests, musical eras, and genres. Visit www.ravinia.org for schedule and tickets.

It was a triple bill of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Indigo Girls and Shawn Mullins a cool Friday night in June, the perfect atmosphere for some hot music. And though the showed started early at, 6:30 PM, there was already a surprisingly good-sized crowd on hand well before the activities were to begin. For those of you who have not experienced Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, the park contains a massive picnic area that surrounds the pavilion where the stage is held. Some stay in the lawn area until the headliner hits the stage, others remain in the picnic area and just enjoy the ambience while listening to the concert to the speakers set up throughout. This show was no different.

The first thing I noticed when I first heard the Indigo Girls over twenty years ago was their vocal harmonies, an interesting blend. Amy Ray has a very deep voice for a female singer and Emily Saliers has the higher and much more versatile voice. This makes for an interesting vocal blend. My only issue with this is the repetition of this formula on every song though I am not that familiar with their catalog of work in its entirety. I found that even though their sound is quite unique, after a couple songs their sound could get a bit predictable. Having said that, the crowd certainly approved of what they heard, many of them singing along and dancing in place.

The Indigo Girls were backed up by three other performers, a multi instrumentalist, a violinist/vocalist and a singer/guitarist. Even with the augmentation of the line up, I still found a lot of their songs have few variables to the band’s overall sound. The tempo and harmonies were just extremely similar from song to song.

Shawn Mullins opened up the night with an acoustic guitar, his own voice and an accordion player. This exceptional baritone singer had a really folky vibe that was a great warm up for the crowd. The pavilion had a lot of empty seats still at that point as concert goers milled about the grounds, but the people that were watching his act really appeared to enjoy his music. Mullins’ sense of humor was also very refreshing.

The act of the night in my opinion was the one in the middle, Mary Chapin Carpenter. She had a typical five-piece band line up, drums, bass, keys and guitar. Backing vocals were provided by the bass and keys players. Now, I don’t know why, but Carpenter is a performer I can honestly say slipped under my radar. A real veteran, her performance was amazing, as Carpenter played a great variety of material - and played it to perfection. If I were to label her music I would say folk….no, country….no, Rock and Roll….all of the above. I hate categories because of their limiting definitions anyway. I like variety and her portion of the show was a great example of that. I really thought Mary should have been the headliner after watching her, but the Girls have a very strong following. It’s not right to say a certain performer is better than another, so I won’t go there. Rather, I simply found Carpenter the performer of the night.

The Indigo Girls is still an act worth seeing. I think maybe branching out a bit may be in their best interest. Their fans would probably disagree, that’s okay. Their following is very loyal, and this could be partly due to their social position…just a couple girls doing it on their own for the most part. I should probably listen a little more clearly to the lyrics, that is probably where the variety of their material lies. I’m sure it is also somewhat difficult to provide a lot of different tempos and rhythmic variations when you play without a live drummer. Heading into the show, I wasn’t sure what their lineup was going to be since I have mostly seen Amy and Emily play as a duet.

The Indigo Girls closed the show with “Closer to Fine”, the song that really put them on the map. The crowd was probably louder than the Girls were at times during that song. That’s what it’s all about really anyway, communication. If you can get an audience to respond like that, mission accomplished. So, to sum it up my criticism of the lack of variety was clearly only in my eyes. Their audience didn’t view it like that. I guess for me Bob Dylan is the same way. To the average listener, many of his songs sound the same. Am I comparing The Indigo Girls to Bob Dylan? I guess in a way, their appeal is in the same vein. Just simple songs played with their own particular flavor. Folk music is what it says it is, music of the people. The people responded, that’s all that really matters, not the opinion of one critic.

Ravinia has announced that the most honored female country performer of all time, Dolly Parton, will bring her first major U.S. and Canadian tour in 25 years to the festival at 7:30 p.m. on August 7. “We’re so excited to get out there and see the fans again,” the legend says. “I’m really looking forward to singing songs the fans have not heard in a while, as well as the hits, while premiering a few new ones off Pure & Simple.”

An internationally renowned superstar, Parton penned such enduring, classic songs as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and the mega-hit “I Will Always Love You.” Over her career, she has created 25 RIAA-certified gold, platinum, or multiplatinum records and 41 top-10 country albums; earned 7 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, 5 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 3 American Music Awards; and she is one of only five female artists to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award.

Donors to the not-for-profit Ravinia Festival at the Friend level and above can make early ticket requests for this concert from now through Friday, April 1. Tickets for this concert and the rest of Ravinia’s 2016 lineup go on sale to the public at 5 a.m. on April 26, exclusively at Ravinia.org.

ABOUT RAVINIA

Ravinia, located right outside Chicago, is North America’s oldest and most diverse music festival, presenting over 140 different events every summer, including the annual residency of the nation’s finest orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a nonprofit organization, Ravinia provides arts programs for over 75,000 people in underserved communities in Cook and Lake Counties through its REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs. Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute is a summer music conservatory that awards 60–70 fully paid fellowships each year to the most talented young professional musicians from around the world to work with an esteemed faculty and the headliners who frequent the festival. For information, visit Ravinia.org.

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